HB627
Covenants not to compete; includes health care professionals, civil penalty.
Status:
Passed
Latest Action:
March 11, 2026
House: Senate substitute agreed to by House (95-Y 2-N 0-A)
Chief Patron:
Charniele Herring (D)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Passed House of Origin. Covenants not to compete; health care professionals; civil penalty.
Adds health care professionals with a salary of less than $500,000 per year as a category of employee with or upon whom no employer shall enter into, enforce, or threaten to enforce a covenant not to compete. The bill defines 'health care professional' as any physician, nurse, nurse practitioner, physician's ... (More) assistant, pharmacist, social worker, dietitian, physical or occupational therapist, professional counselor, behavior analyst, assistant behavior analyst, or medical technologist authorized to provide health care services in the Commonwealth. The bill provides that any employer that violates the prohibition against covenants not to compete with a health care professional is subject to the civil penalty in current law of $10,000 for each violation. (Less)-
Bill History
- 01/13/2026 - House: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104135D
- 01/13/2026 - House: Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
- 01/20/2026 - House: Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #2
- 01/28/2026 - House: Placed on Labor and Commerce Agenda
- 01/29/2026 - House: House subcommittee offered
- 01/29/2026 - House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (5-Y 2-N)
- 01/30/2026 - House: Placed on Labor and Commerce Agenda
- 02/03/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB627)
- 02/03/2026 - House: Reported from Labor and Commerce with amendment(s) (20-Y 2-N)
- 02/05/2026 - House: Read first time
- 02/06/2026 - House: Read second time
- 02/06/2026 - House: committee amendments agreed to
- 02/06/2026 - House: Engrossed by House as amended
- 02/09/2026 - House: Read third time and passed House (93-Y 5-N 0-A)
- 02/10/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- 02/10/2026 - Senate: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
- 02/12/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB627)
- 02/23/2026 - Senate: Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
- 02/23/2026 - Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations
- 02/24/2026 - Senate: Committee substitute printed 26108396D-S1
- 02/24/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB627)
- 03/04/2026 - Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N)
- 03/05/2026 - Senate: Rules suspended
- 03/05/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 03/05/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
- 03/06/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- 03/09/2026 - Senate: Read third time
- 03/09/2026 - Senate: Commerce and Labor Substitute agreed to
- 03/09/2026 - Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
- 03/09/2026 - Senate: Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 03/11/2026 - House: Senate substitute agreed to by House (95-Y 2-N 0-A)
